Critics at Large | The New Yorker How Romantasy Seduces Its Readers
Katy Waldman, a staff writer at The New Yorker and an expert on the romantasy genre, discusses the genre's explosive popularity post-pandemic. She highlights how works like Sarah J. Maas's series have captivated readers, especially on platforms like BookTok. Waldman reveals that romantasy taps into deep-seated desires for empowerment and intimacy, offering readers a comforting escape filled with wish fulfillment. The discussion also explores the evolving themes and tropes that resonate with younger audiences, shedding light on the intersection of fantasy and romance.
49:37
Narrative Ease and Absorption
- A Court of Thorns and Roses' simple narrative style is easy to read, reminiscent of childhood pleasure reading.
- Despite repetitive writing, the book offers total reader absorption.
ACOTAR and COVID Reading
- A listener rediscovered reading with ACOTAR after COVID-19 impacted their ability to focus.
- They found the predictable plot and idealized characters comforting.
Fourth Wing Plot Summary
- Fourth Wing features Violet, a warrior "Nepo baby", forced into dragon riding.
- She navigates trials and a complicated relationship with a "bad boy" named Zayden.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exploring the World of Romantasy
01:39 • 14min
The Reawakening of Reading Through Romantasy
15:36 • 2min
Empowerment and Intimacy in Romantic Fantasy
17:25 • 5min
Exploring Modern Romantic Fantasy
22:26 • 15min
Exploring the Surge of Romantasy and Silicon Valley Insights
37:16 • 2min
The Allure of Romantic Fantasy
39:15 • 13min
Nostalgia and Cinema: A Closing Reflection
52:25 • 3min
#1
• Mentioned in 1,760 episodes
1984
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
#694
• Mentioned in 48 episodes
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros
In 'Fourth Wing,' twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail is forced by her mother, a commanding general, to join the elite dragon riders at Basgiath War College.
Despite her physical weaknesses due to a chronic illness similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Violet must use her intelligence and wit to survive the competitive and deadly environment.
She faces numerous challenges, including sparring matches, the Gauntlet climbing challenge, and battles in the War Games.
Alongside her struggles, Violet uncovers secrets about the leadership and forms complex relationships with her peers, including the ruthless but charismatic wingleader Xaden Riorson.
The book is part of the Empyrean series and combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and romance.
#979
• Mentioned in 38 episodes
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J Maas
In this novel, Feyre Archeron, a young huntress, kills a wolf that turns out to be an immortal faerie.
As punishment, she is taken to the faerie realm of Prythian by Tamlin, a High Lord of the Spring Court.
Initially hostile, Feyre's feelings for Tamlin transform into a fiery passion as she adapts to her new home.
However, an ancient, wicked shadow threatens the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it to save Tamlin and his world.
The book is a retelling inspired by fairy tales such as 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Tam Lin', and it combines elements of romance, adventure, and high fantasy.
#166
• Mentioned in 130 episodes
Dracula
Bram Stoker
The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires.
The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula.
Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life.
Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy.
A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula.
The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs.
tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.
#8981
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The Vampyre
John Polidori
John Polidori's 'The Vampyre' is considered one of the earliest vampire novels, published in 1819.
It features Lord Ruthven, a charismatic and sinister character who preys on innocent victims.
The novel explores themes of seduction, danger, and the supernatural, setting the stage for future vampire literature.
Polidori's work is notable for its atmospheric descriptions and its exploration of the psychological aspects of vampirism.
'The Vampyre' influenced later vampire stories, contributing to the development of the vampire archetype in popular culture.
The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of dark themes and its creation of a compelling villain.
#12763
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Crave
Tracy Wolff
Tracy Wolff's 'Crave' is a paranormal romance novel that follows Grace, a young woman who attends a mysterious boarding school in Alaska.
The story explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery as Grace navigates a dangerous world of vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures.
The series is known for its captivating world-building, strong female protagonist, and steamy romance.
It has gained immense popularity among young adult and adult readers alike, spawning multiple sequels.
The series has been praised for its fast-paced plot and engaging characters, though criticized for repetitive plot elements.
#25995
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Ella Enchanted
Gail Carson Levine
In 'Ella Enchanted', Gail Carson Levine retells the classic Cinderella story with a twist.
Ella, the protagonist, is given the 'gift' of obedience by the fairy Lucinda at birth, forcing her to obey any command.
As Ella grows up, she faces numerous challenges, including mistreatment by her step-family and the danger of her curse being exploited.
She embarks on a journey to find Lucinda to reverse the spell, encountering various mythical creatures and forming a bond with Prince Char.
Ultimately, Ella breaks the curse by refusing a direct order and finds true love with Prince Char, living happily ever after.
#39769
The Song of the Lioness
Tamora Pierce
The Song of the Lioness is a quartet of fantasy novels by Tamora Pierce.
The series follows Alanna of Trebond, a noblewoman who exchanges places with her twin brother to train for knighthood in the royal palace of Corus.
Throughout the four books—Alanna: The First Adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and Lioness Rampant—Alanna navigates her secretive and unusual status as a female knight-in-training, forming friendships, romances, and facing various challenges including social conventions, physical hardships, and world-changing quests.
The series emphasizes themes of female empowerment, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of one’s destiny, making Alanna a timeless role model for young women.
A few years back, novels classed as “romantasy”—a portmanteau of “romance” and “fantasy”—might have seemed destined to attract only niche appeal. But since the pandemic, the genre has proved nothing short of a phenomenon. Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series regularly tops best-seller lists, and last month, Rebecca Yarros’s “Onyx Storm” became the fastest-selling adult novel in decades. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz are joined by their fellow New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman as they delve into the realm of romantasy themselves. Together, they consider some of the most popular entries in the genre, and discuss how monitoring readers’ reactions on BookTok, a literary corner of TikTok, allows writers to tailor their work to fans’ hyperspecific preferences. Often, these books are conceived and marketed with particular tropes in mind—but the key ingredient in nearly all of them is a sense of wish fulfillment. “The reason that I think they’re so powerful and they provide such solace to us is because they tell us, ‘You’re perfect. You’re always right. You have the hottest mate. You have the sickest powers,’ ” Waldman says. “I totally get it. I fall into those reveries, too. I think we all do.”
Read, watch, and listen with the critics:
“Did a Best-Selling Romantasy Novelist Steal Another Writer’s Story?,” by Katy Waldman (The New Yorker)
“The Song of the Lioness,” by Tamora Pierce
“A Court of Thorns and Roses,” by Sarah J. Maas
“Ella Enchanted,” by Gail Carson Levine
“Fourth Wing,” by Rebecca Yarros
“Onyx Storm,” by Rebecca Yarros
“Crave,” by Tracy Wolff
“Working Girl” (1988)
“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
“The Vampyre,” by John Polidori
“Dracula,” by Bram Stoker
“Outlander” (2014–)
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